Peevention

ABSTRACT

A sanitation unit for use with a commode. The sanitation unit has a thin portion, and a thick portion. The thin portion and the thick portion are detachably connected.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Restroom facilities, particularly public facilities, can be unsanitary. The commodes in restroom facilities can harbor a wide variety “germs,” some of which can be disease causing. People are required to use these facilities because they are commonly away from a more reliable and clean restroom environment. There is a long-felt need for an improved means to provide a generally cleanly or protected commode use.

The present invention offers a number of advantages:

1. It is a public or private cleanliness assurance product.

2. It is easy to use, convenient and disposable.

3. It is a shield for the male organ.

4. It is a possible means to reduce the spread of disease from, by, or with the male organ during intimate and/or bathroom activities with that organ.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above advantages as well as other advantages not specifically enumerated are achieved by a sanitation unit for use with a commode. The sanitation unit has a thin portion, and a thick portion. The thin portion and the thick portion are detachably connected. There is also provided a method of making a bathroom facility generally more hygienic. The method includes providing a sanitation unit having a thin portion, and a thick portion, the thin portion and the thick portion being detachably connected.

Various advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of portions of two sanitation units in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the two sanitation units shown in FIG. 1 being separated.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the two sanitation units shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of a sanitation unit in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of a sanitation unit in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of a roll of sanitation units in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/539,648, filed Jan. 29, 2004.

Preliminarily, it should be noted that certain terms used herein, such as for example “left”, “right”, “above”, and “below”, are used to facilitate the description of the invention. Unless otherwise specified or made apparent by the context of the discussion, such terms and other directional terms should be interpreted with reference to the figure(s) under discussion. Such terms are not intended as a limitation on the position in which the invention or components may be used. Indeed, it is contemplated that the components of the invention may be easily positioned in any desired orientation for use. Likewise, numerical terms such as for example “first”, and “second” are not intended as a limitation or to imply a sequence, unless otherwise specified or made apparent by the context of the discussion.

Referring now to the drawings, there are illustrated sanitation units, indicated generally at 10, in accordance with the present invention. Each sanitation unit 10 includes a comparatively thin portion 15 (to the right for both sanitation units 10 in FIG. 1) and a comparatively thick portion 20 (to the left for both sanitation units 10 in FIG. 1). The illustrated sanitation unit 10 includes the thin portion 15 and the thick portion 20 in generally quadrilateral sheets. The thin portion 15 and the thick portion 20 are detachably connected. The detachable connection may be undone at a perforation, tear, seam taper, and/or integral portion or the like.

The thin portion 15 and the thick portion 20 may be generally squared as shown. The thin portion 15 and the thick portion 20 may be secured at a first seam 25. The first seam may be a perforation. The term “thick” may be understood to include a structure having or being of relatively great depth or extent from one surface to its opposite. The term “thin” may be understood to include a structure having relatively little depth or extent from one surface to its opposite.

FIG. 1 shows two sanitation units 10 secured together at a second seam 30. FIG. 2 shows two sanitation units 10 being separated from each other at the second seam 30. It will be appreciated that the second seam 30 may be designed and positioned to allow for relative means of a temporary connection between two sanitation units 10. Each sanitation unit 10 shown includes the comparatively thin portion 15 (below for each sanitation unit 10 in FIG. 2) and a comparatively thick portion 20 (above for each sanitation unit 10 in FIG. 2). FIG. 3 shows two sanitation units 10 separated from each other. It will be appreciated that the integral sanitation unit 10 includes the thin portion 15 (to the right for each sanitation unit 10 in FIG. 3) and the thick portion 20 (to the left for each sanitation unit 10 in FIG. 3) may be secured at the first seam 25.

FIG. 4 shows a sanitation unit 50 having a comparatively thin portion 55 and a comparatively thick portion 60. The thin portion 55 and the thick portion 60 are shown spaced apart from each other at a seam 65. When the sanitation unit 50 of FIG. 4 is compared with the sanitation unit 10 of FIG. 3, it will be appreciated that the thick portion 60 of the sanitation unit 50 is thicker than the thick portion 20 of the sanitation unit 10. Likewise, when the sanitation unit 50 of FIG. 4 is compared with the sanitation unit 10 of FIG. 3, it will be appreciated that the thin portion 55 of the sanitation unit 50 is thicker than the thin portion 15 of the sanitation unit 10. It will thus be appreciated that the comparative thicknesses may be varied as desired.

FIG. 5 shows a sanitation unit 80 having a comparatively thin portion 85 and a comparatively thick portion 90. The thin portion 85 and the thick portion 90 are shown secured at a seam 95. It will be noted that the thick portion 90 includes a curve portion 100. The illustrated curved portion 100 in positioned in a hook-like configuration. The curved portion 100 may be positioned in any suitable configuration. The curved portion 100 has or takes a turn, change, or deviation from a straight line or plane surface. The curved portion 100 may include one or more sharp breaks or angularity sections and may be a comparatively rigid member or grasping member. The curved portion 100 may be included with any suitable sanitation unit, not necessarily just the sanitation unit 80 shown in FIG. 5.

The thick portion 90 and/or the curved portion 100 may be comparatively stiff and/or rigid in comparison to the thin portion 85. The term “stiff” is understood to include a degree in difficulty to bend. The term “stiff” is understood to include a state of being relatively firm and/or inflexible.

FIG. 6. shows a plurality of sanitation units 110 on a roll 115. The sanitation units 110 may be any suitable sanitation units shown in the application or any variation thereof. When the sanitation units 110 are provided on the roll 115, it allows for a supply to be made available for a user in a convenient form. Prior art toilet paper dispensers or tissue dispensers may be adapted as desired to allow for dispensing of the sanitation units 110.

In operation, the sanitation units 10, 50, 80, 110 may be positioned on a commode (not shown), a latrine (not shown), or other suitable restroom facility. The invention may be employed to make a bathroom facility, or other facility, generally more hygienic. For example, the invention may be employed to make a commode generally more hygienic. The term “hygienic” here is understood to include conditions or practices, such as for example those of cleanliness, conducive to health.

The sanitation units 10, 50, 80, 110 may be positioned in any suitable manner. For example, the sanitation units 10, 50, 80, 110 may be positioned such that the thick portions 20, 60, 90 contact a convenient portion, such as for example the rim, of the commode. The curved portion 100 of the sanitation unit 80 may be of particular use in grasping the commode and/or positioning the sanitation unit 80. In such a positioning, the thick portions 20, 60, 90 are relatively distal from the user (not shown) seated on the commode while the thin portions 15, 55, 85 are relatively proximal to the user.

It will be appreciated that the thick portions 20, 60, 90 may be adapted to be secured to the commode. It will be understood that the term “secured” as being used here is understood to include a positioning and/or fixing which somewhat reduces the likelihood of movement and/or falling. It will be understood that the term “secured” as being used here is understood to include a positioning and/or fixing directed to stabilizing.

The user may be a male person. Proper positioning of the sanitation units allows for the male user to position one or more portions of his penis (not shown) substantially across the thin portions 15, 55, 85 of the sanitation units 10, 50, 80, 110 while the male is seated on and/or using the commode. The penis may or may not extend onto the thick portions 20, 60, 90 of the sanitation units 10, 50, 80, 110 depending on anatomical and seating considerations.

Any suitable material(s) may be employed for production of the present invention. The materials used in production of the sanitation units 10, 50, 80, 110 may be germicidal or include a germicidal composition. For example, the materials may be impregnated or coated with a composition able to kill or inhibit the growth or infective ability of a wide variety of microorganisms. Antiviral, antibacterial and/or other antimicrobial compositions may be employed for this purpose. It will be appreciated that the sanitation unit may be configured to have antimicrobial properties. Similarly, the materials may include, or may be impregnated and/or coated with, a suitable soap, conditioner or the like.

Alternate embodiments of the sanitation units 10, 50, 80, 110 may be employed. For example, the thin portions and the thick portions need not be about the same size or have about the same area. Likewise, the thin portions and thick portions need not have generally straight edges, though the thin portions and thick portions shown here do have generally straight edges. For ease of transport and use, the sanitation units 10, 50, 80, 110 may be packaged, dispensed and/or carried in a manner similar to feminine napkins or tissues. The thin portions and the thick portions may be integrally formed, thus having no seam or perforation or connection—or may be connected at a seam. The thin portions and the thick portions may generally taper together.

The following U.S. patents or publications are hereby incorporated by reference herein as if fully reproduced;

U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,495 to Han, Jun. 28, 1994 “Discardable toilet pad for use in water closets”

U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,906 to Snuggs, Aug. 1, 1995 “Sanitary toilet seat covers”

U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,096 to Gardner, Sep. 3, 1996 “Disposable toilet seat cover apparatus”

U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,764 to Lin, Sep. 21, 1999 “Sanitary toilet bowl seat envelope”

U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,518 to Akazawa, May 9, 2000 “Toilet seat sheet holding structure”

U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,841 to Parviainen, et al., May 16, 2000 “Sanitary toilet seat cover”

The principle and mode of operation of this invention have been described in its preferred embodiments. However, it should be noted that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its scope. 

1. A sanitation unit for use with a commode comprising: a thin portion, and a thick portion, the thin portion and the thick portion being detachably connected.
 2. The sanitation unit of claim 1 wherein the sanitation unit is substantially coated with an antimicrobial composition.
 3. The sanitation unit of claim 1 wherein the sanitation unit is substantially impregnated with an antimicrobial composition.
 4. The sanitation unit of claim 1 wherein the sanitation unit is supplied on a roll.
 5. The sanitation unit of claim 1 wherein the thick portion is generally stiffer than the thin portion.
 6. The sanitation unit of claim 1 wherein the thick portion is adapted to be secured to the commode.
 7. The sanitation unit of claim 1 wherein the thick portion is generally curved.
 8. The sanitation unit of claim 1 wherein the thin portion and the thick portion are connected at a perforation.
 9. The sanitation unit of claim 1 wherein the thin portion and the thick portion are connected at a seam.
 10. The sanitation unit of claim 1 wherein thin portions and the thick portions are integrally formed.
 11. A method of making a bathroom facility generally more hygienic comprising: providing a sanitation unit having a thin portion, and a thick portion, the thin portion and the thick portion being detachably connected.
 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising positioning the sanitation unit on a bathroom facility.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the bathroom facility is a commode.
 14. The method of claim 11 wherein the sanitation unit is substantially coated with an antimicrobial composition.
 15. The method of claim 11 wherein the sanitation unit is substantially impregnated with an antimicrobial composition.
 16. The method of claim 11 wherein the sanitation unit is supplied on a roll.
 17. The method of claim 11 wherein the thick portion is generally stiffer than the thin portion.
 18. The method of claim 11 wherein the thick portion is generally curved.
 19. The method of claim 11 wherein the thin portion and the thick portion are connected at a perforation.
 20. A sanitation unit for use with a commode comprising: a thin portion, and a thick portion generally stiffer than the thin portion, the thin portion and the thick portion being detachably connected, wherein the sanitation unit has antimicrobial properties. 